Disclaimer: I do not own the guardian, make no money from this etc.

Author's Note: Sorry for the long time since I last updated, just been busy with my other stories and homework, sorry. Thanks so much to hgriss and christyzachman for reviewing :) hope you like the chapter...


Nick opened his eyes and glanced around the dark room, he smiled to himself. Today was Monday, he could finally see how things were running without him and how his Dad was doing working there.

He had been adapting well over the weekend. His left hand was basically useable despite having to wear a compression glove, he could basically use it normally as long as he didn't try and do extremely delicate things like needle work or painting by numbers. His right hand was another matter, it was like having a lump of concrete as opposed to an arm.

Nick didn't mind too much, he was getting used to it and he was glad to be alive. He had his Dad, his kids, a great job and also Lulu. He glanced at her sleeping beside him and smiled slightly, his life could be alot worse.

"Morning," he said smiling after the alarm began beeping with its high pitched whine.

"Morning," she replied returning his smile, "I take it you still wanna work today?"

"Uh-huh."

"Fine," she agreed getting out of bed,

Getting dressed was pretty awkward, he was determined to be independent but it was pretty hard to get dressed one-handed so Lulu helped him. They were just finished when AJ started crying, probably ready for his breakfast and listening to his rumbling stomach so was he.

Breakfast was fun, they had porridge which Nick could easily eat unaided. He even gave his kids a few spoonfuls much to their delight. He couldn't help but feel happy at breakfast with the kids and Lulu, like a proper family. Lulu went to do the dishes while he entertained the kids with building blocks while he waited for his Dad to pick him up.

"Your Dad's here," Lulu called from the kitchen and he jumped up happily, he really couldn't wait to get to LSP, he really was afraid everything would have gone to hell without him.

"Still sure you wanna come back to work so soon? After all you nearly died," began his Dad immediately as he opened the door.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," Nick insisted grabbing his coat.

His Dad sighed and didn't look convinced as he went to kiss Lulu goodbye, she smiled and wished him good luck before he went with Burton to LSP.

It was weird being back to all the hustle and bustle associated with work after such a long break, not that he minded he did love his job although it was slightly unnerving in a way how everyone was doing OK without him but in another way he was pleased that everything hadn't gone to hell while he was gone.

"Nick? How wonderful to see you doing to well," exclaimed Emily in her usual friendly way as she came over to the, "Burton, here's a case for you," she added grabbing one from the pile she was carrying and handing it to him, "already waiting in your office."

"`Your office?`" repeated Nick curiously as his Dad's cheeks became scarlet.

"Well it's not really my office but I had to work somewhere," his Dad explained shifting nervously.

"It's fine Dad," said Nick surpressing a smile as he waved it off, "go on then, you seem busy. Emily will fill me in."

"Okay... but if you feel to tired or ill just y'know come get me and I'll take you home."

"I'll be fine," scoffed Nick rolling his eyes before his Dad shuffled off, "so my office?"

They went into his oddly quiet office and she filled him in on what had happened and about the influx of cases they'd had due to the loss of the Kate Shaw's place, lots of immediate cases had been given to them while others had been postponed. Things were quieting down now apparently, which was good. He was impressed by how well his skeletal supply of lawyers had done.

No court cases for him but he had a stack of paperwork to occupy him for the time being, stuff to read, stuff to sign... It still beat doing nothing in a hospital bed all day. Despite insistance he was fine, his Dad regulary came to check on him throughout the morning but the frequency of visits were becoming less so Nick assumed his Dad realized he was fine. Well fine enough to work anyway, he added glancing at the lump of cast he had.

Nick quickly discovered a kind of major problem. He was right-handed and while using his left for most things was fine, writing was not. After his first signature came out in a baby-ish scrawl he started practising on blank pieces of paper, he wasn't impressed though Anne or AJ could do a helluva lot better if he was honest.

He kept at it though alternating between reading files and practising his signature, any files that need his signature he placed in a pile to come back to when he'd gotten the hang of it more. Thankfully by the time his Dad came to take them out to lunch he had mastered some semblance of a normal signature, he still made a mental note to practise writing with his left hand at home.

Normally Nick tended to skip lunch but considered it pointless as having lunch seemed to ease his father's worry, which was great. Nick was surprised however by the people who pointed to him smiling and muttering the word `hero.` He was used to the hospital staff saying tha but he had assumed it was just them trying to keep up his spirits, apparantly he was wrong...